Method for cooling of synthetic turf

Abstract

The present invention provides for synthetic turf infill materials and methods of making such materials wherein the surfaces of the materials have been modified with hydrophilic properties. The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a method to modify the surface of synthetic turf infill through coating, crosslinking or other methods. The surface of the infill is modified to become substantially hydrophilic with low contact angles. The present invention also provides a process for producing surfaces with hydrophilic properties.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A synthetic turf system, the artificial turf comprising a backing layer with a plurality of grass-like filaments attached and a synthetic turf infill cooling granule comprising a polymer core particle treated to create a hydrophilic surface; wherein the core particle comprises a granular material; and wherein the hydrophilic surface treatment (a) modifies the surface tension of the infill materials; and (b) alters a property of the materials selected from the group consisting of surface charge, surface charge density, surface hydrophobicity, and surface charge and hydrophobicity combined. 
     
     
       2. The synthetic turf system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic treatment of the surface of the polymer core particle is with plasma. 
     
     
       3. The synthetic turf system of  claim 2 , wherein the plasma is a microwave plasma or a low-pressure plasma. 
     
     
       4. The synthetic turf system of  claim 2 , wherein the plasma is created using a plasma selected from the group consisting of one or more of oxygen plasmas, CO 2  plasmas, NO plasmas, and NO 2  plasmas. 
     
     
       5. The synthetic turf system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic treatment of the surface of the polymer core modifies the polymer surfaces so as to form functional groups selected from the group consisting of one or more of hydroxy, carbonyl, carboxy, and peroxide groups.